The Arab Horse Society operates a Premium Scheme in furtherance
of one of its specific aims of breed improvement and to encourage
the use of Arab blood in light horse and sport horse breeding.

Stallions are accepted into the scheme by Performance Testing
with the National Stallion Association (NaStA) where they are required
to perform a dressage test, complete a round of show jumps and
a cross country course as well as being assessed for type, conformation,
movement and temperament. Stallions over the age of twelve can
qualify as Premium Stallions through the achievements of their
progeny.

Mares that
achieve Premium status and produce foals by Premium Stallions
receive £200 from the Arab Horse Society for a
Pure Bred or Anglo Arab foal or £100 for a Part Bred Arab
foal, upon registration with the Society. Mares can also qualify
for Premium status by successfully completing the NaStA Performance
Test but most are accepted on the basis of their show record or
performance in open competition. Mares do not need to carry any
Arab blood to qualify.

The Premium Scheme Committee is pleased to introduce a new initiative
to provide an alternative route for mares to be able to achieve
Premium status and take advantage of the benefits of the scheme.
Mares will be able to come forward to one of a number of venues
around the country to be assessed on their conformation, type and
correctness of movement together with the quality of their paces.
If successfully graded they will become Premium Mares allowing
them to reap the financial awards on offer when their foals by
Premium Stallions are registered with the Arab Horse Society.

Gradings will
be held at the AHS National Show at Malvern on Thursday 28th & Friday
29th July, at the NaStA Performance Test, Milton Keynes Equestrian
Centre on 23rd/24th
August as well as at two
other venues held in association with Sport Horse Breeding of Great
Britain at Addington Equestrian Centre, Buckingham on Saturday
25th June and Houghton-le-Springs, County Durham on Thursday 15th
September.

We hope that
mare owners will take advantage of this excellent opportunity
to participate in a scheme whose success
speaks for
itself. The winner of Badminton in 2004 was TAMARILLO by the deceased
Premium Stallion, TARNIK. The Champion Endurance Horse in 2003,
FRANZARA was sired by the deceased Premium Stallion, BONANZA. The
current Premium Stallions, IMAD and RUSLEEM have both won the coveted
title “Ridden Arab of the Year” at the Horse of the
Year Show and in 2003 the winner of this award was the mare, JAMMILAH
by the Premium Stallion DJAMMAL. Already in 2005 the former Premium
Stallion, HACHIM has won the World Endurance Championships, he
was the youngest ever horse to pass the NaStA Performance Test
at just 4 years of age.